180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Not RecommendedLGBT+ visiting: Not Recommended
Volcano-boarding down Cerro Negro's black ash is the kind of thing you do once and dine out on forever. Nicaragua keeps adventure cheap: colonial Granada, the twin volcanoes of Ometepe rising out of a vast lake, surf towns down the Pacific side. The government is a hard autocracy, so keep your politics to yourself while you're there and don't post commentary until you're home.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Nicaragua: 5.5
Ranked 66th in the world for the highest homicide rate.
5.45 homicides per 100,000 people in 2023 — an elevated rate by world standards.
Higher than 62% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Nicaragua: 2.2
Ranked 53rd least peaceful country in the world.
More peaceful than 32% of the 163 countries ranked, scoring 2.207.
Up 2 places since 2024.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Nicaragua: 4.8
Ranked 22nd least free country in the world.
Less free than 92% of the 165 countries measured — 4.85 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 3.72; doing business and owning property, 6.43.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Nicaragua: 4.5
Ranked 81st most equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
Better for LGBT+ equality than 57% of the 197 countries scored — 45 out of 100.
The law runs ahead of public opinion here — legal protections score 50 out of 100, everyday attitudes 40.